Man of Metropolis: Billy Magnussen

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FASHION

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ON THE COVER Actor Billy Magnussen for Man of Metropolis wears full look by Dolce & Gabbana photographed by Austin Augie

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E XCLUSIVE

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SPRING 2020

LET TER FROM EDITOR

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I have always experienced summer as a seaon of freedom. The days are longer, the nights warmer and every week that passes by is filled with memory making outdoor activities, trips to the local ice cream shop and nights at the local movie theatre.

I grew up on a lake and we used to jump off the end of docks all summer long. I can still hear the sound of the boats rubbing against the dock as I write this. After the last year, all I really want to do is think about better days. Days free from the overwhelming weight of life. I feel like I spent this last year frozen in a state of worry. Of course, most of this was because of the global pandemic that we all faced but like you I also had way too much time to think about the heaviness of life. Why was I carrying certain things with me every day? How could I lighten my load. Some days the answers were obvious but, others not so much. I took the leap and found a therapist and she has helped me find the obvious and not so obvious answers. I included some images of water in this issue because it is somethig from my childhood that was so pure. Water is buoyant, it's purifying, and it surrounds us from all sides. Sometimes when we can't solve the heaviness of life the first thing we need to do is make sure the things around us in life are lifting us up and propelling us forward. As we break through and break free from the weight of last year we get to mark this summer with the memories we want! Eat the ice cream, stay up late, jump into

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the healing and open waters nearest to you and feel weightless.

Better days are here again and so are Summer Blockbusters!

I had the opportunity to take in my first movie post pandemic at the Paris Theatre here in New York a few weeks ago. It was Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead. We caught up with one of the stars Theo Rossi for our new video series and poscast and we cover what it is like working with the famed director Zack Snyder. We also catch up with some rising stars in film including Ian Quinlan and Gregory Diaz IV. This Summer's cover star is actor Billy Magnussen who stars in the new HBO Max series 'Made for Love' and can be seen later this year in the much anticipated James Bond movie, No Time To Die movie. Yes I love movies and it has been fun to talk to all these amazing talented actors for our new series on YouTube and iTunes.

We have a lot of fashion in this issue including 'On the Loose' staring Corrado by Brendan Wixted and Torian Lewin. We go to the beaches of Barcelona in 'Golden'.

This is Man of Metropolis -- Issue 18.

Seth Travis FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITOR -IN- CHIEF

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CONTENTS

TREND

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FRESH AIR

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BLUES TRAVELER

08

HIRO CL ARK

10

FASHION

CODY SIMPSON X VERSACE

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COVER STORY: BILLY MAGNUSSEN

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CONTENTS

CULTURE

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THEO ROSSI

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IAN QUINL AN

HIS POWER

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JOSH K APL AN, NEW REPUBLIC

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GOLDEN

COVER STORY: ON THE LOOSE, STARRING CORRADO

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GREGORY DIA Z IV

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VERSACE

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Cody Simpson WORDS

Seth Travis Versace

COURTESY

Known for La Da Dee, Golden Thing and Pretty Brown Eyes now pop star Cody Simpson is taking on a new starring role as the new face of Versace's latest men's eyewear collection and campaign.

Cody, a singer, actor, model, and swimmer encapsulates the Versace man – bold, talented, and unafraid to step out of his comfort zone. Cody exudes confidence in the new contemporary sun and optical styles while embodying that iconic Versace attitude.

The new men’s eyewear collection, consisting of two sunglasses and one optical style (seen here), reimagines the iconic Medusa – now designed as a hollow, tactile cast that embellishes contemporary openwork eyewear frames.

Shop the collection and Versace boutiques and Versace.com now.

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CODY SIMPSON

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HIRO CL ARK

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ENDLESS SUMMER Seth Travis Hiro Clark PHOTOGRAPHER Brian Kaminski ST YLIST Andrew Vottero GROOMING Anna Bernabe TALENT Paul Kiefer EDITOR

FEATURING

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Shorts: Orlebar Brown Towel: Ace Hotel for Hiro Clark

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HIRO CL ARK

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ADDITIONAL CREDITS ST YLIST

Michael Cioffoletti MODEL

Cooper Koch

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KITH

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KITH X VANS EDITOR

Seth Travis

I grew up wearing Vans when I raced BMX bikes. One of the most comfortable, fashion forward and affordable ways to dress for Summer is to add a pair or two of Vans to your wardrobe.

Now, thanks to KITH you have more options than the classic colors or checkered flag print with new bandanna print styles, earthy visuals like forrests and trees and even florals just in time for that Summer wardrobe upgrade.

To celebrate Kith’s 10th anniversary, the New York-based brand has worked with Vans Vault to create adult and kids capsules that center around the OG Classic Slip-On LX.

versions of the Slip-On LX for adults each featuring a different pattern.

Each style is offered in a canvas upper executed with an allover Kith print. The left and right shoe feature asymmetrical branding on the back side of the flag labels. Kith’s 10th Anniversary logo replaces the I with an X which is seen on the right shoe, while the left shoe features Since 2011. The footbeds are also custom-printed with a KXTH logo. Lastly, each model arrives in custom packaging that displays the print seen on the shoe. Kith for Vans Vault now available at KITH stores and Kith. com.

Kith reprises its partnership with Vans Vault to celebrate the brand’s 10-year anniversary on a staple summer footwear of choice, featuring the OG Classic Slip-On LX. Taking pride in its range of prints and graphics, Kith looks back at some of the custom patterns featured in their collection over the last ten years. Continuing the theme of “10”, Kith has created ten SUMMER 2021

VANS

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TRENDS

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WILSON

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State of Play EDITOR

Seth Travis

Wilson is dropping the brand's first sportswear collection this Summer and we are here for it! Everyone is looking for comfort, performance, and style especially now. We can already hear Castaway star Tom Hanks shouting 'Wilson!' and so are we.

The global brand known for innovation and expertise in equipment across many sports will be launching a new, elevated sport-inspired, lifestyle apparel line this week. Now available in the U.S. and China, the performance and stylish apparel line signals the evolution of Wilson into its next phase, as a household athletic lifestyle brand. Crossing the intersection of sport, fashion, and culture, Wilson has tapped a roster of notable athletes, entrepreneurs, and designers to join its existing Advisory Staff network, comprised of more than 10,000 professional athletes, coaches, and teaching pros. Shop wilson.com.

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WILSON

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FRAGRANCE

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FRESH AIR Robert Dallas SethTravis

COLL AGE ARTIST EDITOR

ETERNIT Y SUMMER A striking blend of Lime, Bergamot, and Coriander rule the top notes. Basil, Sage and Sea Salt. Thes scent trails with the warm and woody notes of Amber, Musk, and Cedar.

Eternity For Men Summer by Calvin Klein is the perfect blend of sensual, clean, masculine yet refined.

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FRAGRANCE

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FRAGRANCE

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CK ONE SUMMER

An explosion of colorful freshness, Calvin Klein introduces a pure and vibrant new juice for the summer of 2021. The rare citrus blend of a lemon and orange hybrid is bitter yet sweet, the vibrancy of the rhubarb delivers a nostalgic refreshment, the freshwater accord explodes with sparkling vitality, and the luscious peach skin reveals a modern sweetness.

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FRAGRANCE

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L ACOSTE L .12.12 BL ANC Inspired by the iconic polo shirt of the Maison, a blend of fine sparkling citrus fruits mingles with energizing green notes. The fragrance embodies elegance and comfort with the woody warmth of cedar and cardamom contrasting against the freshness of eucalyptus.

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FRAGRANCE

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GUCCI GUILT Y

A woody aromatic spicy scent designed to provoke.Discover two iconic notes mde popular in the 1970s; rose and chili pepper. The mid is comprised of masculine orange blossom absolute, neroli, and French lavender with a sensual base of patchouli and cedarwood.

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FRAGRANCE

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BOSS BOT TLED A masculine freshness and urban warmth with notes of citrus, mint and warm woods. South African buchu and blood orange, lively heart of spearmint, peppermint and orris concrete. A warm base of vetiver, patchouli and cashmeran grounds the scent with a woody elegance.

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GUCCI

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BLUES TRAVE EDITOR

Seth Travis Maria Renza

COLL AGE

SUMMER 2021

GUCCI

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ELER GUCCI OFF THE GRID BLUE Designed for those mindful of their environmental impact, Gucci Off The Grid uses recycled, organic, bio-based and sustainably sourced materials. It is the first collection from Gucci Circular Lines, created in keeping with the House’s vision for circular production.

Shop select Gucci stores and on gucci.com

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STOCKIST

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SU MM ER FASHION

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HIS POWER Qiao Joao Pedro Assis MAKEUP Mitch Yoshida HAIR Miwako Urasugi MODEL Ibby Sow, Marilyn Agency EDITOR Seth Travis PHOTOGRAPHER ST YLIST

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Shirt: Ben Atelie Short: MERCY X MANKIND Belt: Prada Shoes: Prada Jewelry: BOND HARDWARE

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Shirt: Ben Atelie Pants: Levi’s Shoes: Givenchy OPPOSITE PAGE

Jacket: MERCY X MANKIND Pants and Boots: Acne Studios Jewelry: AUSTIN JAMES SMITH

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Shirt: Ben Atelie Shorts: Mercy x Mankind Belt: Prada Shoes: Prada Jewelry: BOND HARDWARE OPPOSITE PAGE

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Shirt: Ben Pants: Levi’s Shoes: Givenchy OPPOSITE PAGE

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ON THE LOOSE Corrado, Soul Artist Management Brendan Wixted ST YLIST Torian Lewin ST YLING ASSISTANT Alex Tonge HAIR Levi Monarch MAKEUP Alex T EDITOR Seth Travis MODEL

PHOTOGRAPHER

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Full Look: Christian Wijnants

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Sweater: Christian Wijnants Swim Brief: Sean & Val Socks: Uniqlo Shoes: Vans

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Full Look: Dior Lock Bag: Dior OPPOSITE PAGE

Biker Vest: Mercy X Mankind

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Tank: Calvin Klein Shirt: Teddy Vonranson Shorts: Untitled Collective Sneakers: Air Jordan by Nike OPPOSITE PAGE

Pullover: Bottega Veneta

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Full Look: Ermenegildo Zenga OPPOSITE PAGE

Tank: Calvin Klein Shirt: Teddy Vonranson Shorts: Untitled Collective Sneakers: Air Jordan by Nike

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Swim Brief: Ron Dorff Bracelet: Versace Neclace: Stylist Own OPPOSITE PAGE

Sunglasses: Missoni Full Look: Lanvin Necklace: Stylist Own

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Lorenzo Profilio Janou Montegud HAIR & MAKEUP Manuela Pane MODEL Mario Lope, Traffic Models Barcelona EDITOR Seth Travis PHOTOGRAPHER ST YLIST

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Necklace: Stylist Own Shirt: Andrea Pompilio Tanktop: Dolce and Gabbana Pants: Ermenegildo Zegna Sandals: Church's

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SPOTLIGHT

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IAN QUINL AN Marie & Lee Laura Mazza-Hobbs ST YLIST Britt Theodora EDITOR Seth Travis

PHOTOGRAPHER

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ian Quinlan who stars in the new Mark Miller Jupiter's legacy as Hutch now streaming on Netflix catches up with us for our new podcast and video series over zoom. The following is an excerpt from our full interview.

How did you get started as an actor in the city?

IQ: I’m a native New Yorker and I started acting really young around like five. I was doing commercials. My mom tells the story that she used to walk by my room

and she would hear all these voices coming from inside. She opened the door and it would just be me and like a Calvin and Hobbes kinda towel cape with like my action figures, all lined up in some sort of battle sequence. I'd be like, shut the door. I started doing Music of the Heart as a kid with Meryl Streep cause I also played violin. Then I did the Lion King on Broadway for a year. It was a blast being a kid in New York getting to leave school early on a Wednesday to be on Broadway was pretty cool. I decided I really had a passion for it in high school doing plays SUMMER 2021

and stuff. I actually went to Fordham University for acting and directing and I got out of school and I'm just doing it.

Let’s jump into the Superhero genre. I know you have experience with being in Gotham.

IQ: I love Batman. I'm a huge Batman fan.

I love all the villains of Batman. I love the story of Batman. I love his whole narrative. So that was really cool when I used to go out for the nerdy guy who never gets the girl that was like my type. Yeah.

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It was like total door, comedy, nut, job, whatever. And then I really wanted to try something different. And when Gotham came around, I called my agent and I said, Hey, there’s this part I want. I know I'm not going to get it. I know. I’m not what they're looking for, but can you just ask them if I can just show them what I can do and they granted me an audition. So then I came in and I showed a darker side of what I could do. And that's when they brought me in later on for Carl Pinkney, the officer. So we're learning about Jim Gordon and all of a sudden in this corrupt town and it's such a wacky universe.

Is that something that you feel like being in Gotham and being in that role, um, paved the way for you to play Hutch and Jupiter's legacy?

IQ: Oh, absolutely. Yeah. It was like, as soon as that, as soon as I booked Gotham, I started booking a lot of soldier roles. I think that's the kind of thing that happens in our industry. Like actors, we see, like when you first meet an actor, people kind of tend to pigeonhole or like say, oh, you're really good at this. We have to constantly show different sides and ask for a chance to show something new so we can actually put that on a person's radar. I think that definitely paved the way for Hutch. I really, really liked him a lot. I think there's a lot we have in common though, maybe not in terms of implementation, you know, I think this guy is really struggling. I would say he's fighting against systems of oppression really. you know? Kind of an antiquated bureaucracy. The white side of the family, American dream 2.5 kids, two income families. Black side is like, there's a lot of people who have made a lot of themselves. However, there was a lot of unnecessary struggle that they had to go through. And I think that's something that Hutch kind of sees, like you have these superheroes who have lived for over a hundred years, who even before they got their powers were billionaires, you know?

I mean, have they ever really known a struggle? And what do they know about every man's experience.

Can you talk a little bit more about that romantic side to Hutch’s story?

IQ: Totally. Mark Miller likes to say that Romeo and Juliet it's the son of the world's greatest super villain falling in love with the daughter of the world's greatest superhero. I still have a little bit of Sidney, Nancy. I think that there's this beautiful love story that's happening, where you meet these two people who are trying to break out of their identities that people slapped on them. She doesn't want to follow in her father's footsteps and Hutch barely knows his father and both kind of envy the other side or resent the other side. And then they kind of meet each other and they see, oh, like the grass is not greener.

There's a moment that you kind of appear in an apartment space and interrupt something. I was like, wow! This is not your PG comic book show. How would you describe it to someone who might be skeptical about the series?

IQ: So you compared it to the boys earlier. And I think I love The Boys and I really enjoy what they're doing from their angle. I think it's a really interesting take on what if superheroes were actually like sociopaths and psychopaths and, you know, uncontrollable madmen. I feel like our show is a little similar where we're seeing flawed heroes. We're seeing human beings who are trying to be good and no body's trying to do their best. And you see these heroes who fail many times and you see them not always being the perfect role model or the perfect citizen.

They have to battle their own demons, darkness and their own shadows. And I think that's really interesting too. You know, I think that's like such a close look at what happens when the hero has to go home like they're really just a person.

What are you up to right now? Are you in between projects, anything else in the works?

IQ: Well, first of all, I'm definitely riding the high of Jupiter’s Legacy, you know, I wrapped shooting in November, 2019,

so I've been just waiting for this to come out. So these past few weeks have been super surreal and super great and I’m enjoying every second of it so that we can finally share it with the world. So right now I'm in between projects, for sure.

Like waiting to hear about season two.

I've been doing a lot of writing, like during COVID I started writing a lot. I've been writing a couple of things. I actually got good at skateboarding.

How are you processing things from the pandemic and finding ways to move forward?

IQ: There’s these moments of bliss. Like you get on a good day. Like it's like, yeah, it's really important to take those moments and to really enjoy them as fully as possible. Cause you really don't know when the next one is coming. So during COVID I picked up some cooking and skateboarding. I started surfing in Rockaway and then a couple of friends of mine and I, we were like, do you have the time? I was like I got the time! We went to Hawaii for a month.

How would you describe your personal style?

IQ: I've gotten into skate culture, so like a little more grungy, like more shredded jeans, a lot more vans are in my closet now. Been wearing a lot more like, All Saints and like ripping some stuff up, like ripping off collars and things and sleeves.

I love a good coat that can last forever.

You know what I'll tell you. I never I had never worn Gucci before until the photo shoot. And that was like, oh wow, I get it. I get it. It's like, I finally put it on. And I was like, oh yeah, yeah. I'm like, this is like, I feel like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Words to live by?

IQ: You don't know what you don't know.

I find that very true. And I like to use that whenever I walk into a new room or meet new people. We are so quick to sort of try to categorize or define a person.

Human beings are so beautiful in their individuality.

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BILLY MAGNUSSEN Austin Augie Jorge Morales FASHION ASSISTANT Eliza Flynn PHOTO ASSISTANT Gregory Moliterno GROOMING Rheanne White, Tracey Mattingly EDITOR Seth Travis PHOTOGRAPHER ST YLIST

We caught up with actor Billy Magnussen following our cover shoot in Brooklyn, NY on the heels of the his new series Made for Love for HBO Max. We talked more about his character Byron Gogol, his current project building a house with his family in Georgia, we talk fashion, his upcoming James Bond appearance and more. Here is part of our conversation.

Yesterday’s shoot was awesome. Honestly, it was really inspiring. Just sort of watching your personality come out.

BM: That’s how I feel with the acting stuff.

It's like organized chaos. You know what the job is, you prepare as much as you can and then you just let it go. It's all you can do. Cause I don't know what I'm doing. I have no clue right now. The more it's true, the more you get older and more knowledgeable, you become, it's like the less I know. And like you do, you slowly just have to be present more and more and just take life as it is. And all you can control is how you react to it.

As an actor, you're constantly in a SUMMER 2021

state of job interviews, right? That has to create a lot of thick skin.

BM: It’s a game of being, getting told no over and over again. And how thick your skin is to keep trudging ahead, because with a hundred no's, it just takes that one yes. And that's in the right thing will, will show up. It does, it does wear you down over and over and still, I still get no's all the time, you know, but I do have to think my entire career, or, you know, too. The Chris's, the Skarsgård's and the Hemsworth brothers all for passing on projects.

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And that's how my career has happened.

You strike me as someone who's very like easy going and go with the flow.

Is that you're, is that natural for you or is that, is that something you've had to learn with age?

BM: Uh, I would say I'm less easy going in all that. Now when I was young, I was like, whatever, let fly. And then like, once you become more of a man, I don't know your empathy has to grow. And like, they're used to be a time where I thought my shit didn't stink and. You know, I was not selfish, but you know, very, uh, self, self centered, I guess. And then like, as I've grown and from wonderful relationships I've had with people, like, you know, you really grow to empathize and like welcome more and more people into your life because we all don't know what we're doing. And no, one's, uh, no, one's the villain in their story.

Well, speaking of, Made for Love is a really interesting series. You play the character of Byron Gogel, which I think it's funny. Cause it sounds so close to Google and I want to talk about like, How they dress you. I would love to kind of talk to you about how Byron was created.

BM: It all comes down to our wardrobe designer, Jen. She was unbelievable and hours and hours of meeting and like going over the wardrobe fittings and the tailoring. Because I think it actually plays a huge part of the world of the hub that everything is slick and sleek. Cause like think of all the modern technology and now it's all sleek and whatever it has to be representative of him and the way he views the world, you know, A guy that wants to control everything. Everything had code. Everything has a thing, A, B, C... So it's a pattern. I think the wardrobe really reflects that this color palette matches this. Everyone wears these colors and then you get into the real world and you realize it's all chaos and you can't control it. Just like a relationship.

You could try to, you know, say I plan on.

One year meeting the person two years, we get married three years I want a baby.

It doesn't work that way. And even if every time you try, it's going to just implode on itself. I think. Yeah. Right? Shit gets weird.

There’s kind of like a sci-fi element to it mixed with Silicon valley. Yeah. It's very scary. I don't think we're that far away for something like this.

BM: You have a watch on your wrist. It tells you what to do, have you ever seen that with the apple watches? I do want to say Christina Lee and, Alissa nutting, what they did with Made for Love, which is so brilliant, they use that tool of like the tech and the sci-fi and the dark comedy to actually open up a conversation about relationships. Yes, it's extreme circumstances and it's heightened like that. But at the end of the day, you're watching, these people just trying to connect with each other and how they miss each other constantly.

I just thought, even for you, as an actor, getting to play this kind of you know, outlandish character, You really had some special moments in that last episode in the diner, that's all I'm going to say. You went layers deeper than maybe we saw in Byron throughout this series.

BM: I’ve done this in other interviews or talks about it, but this toxic masculinity and that a lot of what we do is just a front because of this world we're taught and like the emotions that we all have, we have them, but why do we suppress it or hide them? Or what are we actually scared of by sharing them? I really don't know the answer, but in like, it's a question. I catch myself all the time. Why, why, why are you hiding right now? Why are you. You know, protecting something that, you know, would probably be more, it would be better let out. I grew up in a place where there was toxic masculinity, and you're trained to not feel emotions in the fucking locker room with the dudes you know, they're picking on you or whatever, and you're, you’re thrown into that shit.

Even if you go back to the heart of Byron, like you, as you see his character MANOFMETROPOLIS.COM

unfold and made for love, like he just wants to be accepted and be loved.

And he obviously has trauma from his, you know, from growing up and he has this connection. I think that's kind of what we all want is that connection.

BM: Yeah. The show we get tired of putting on the fake show and that personality or that some point it always cracks.

What do you want your friends and family and maybe people in your life that really matter to you? What do you want them to take away from this project?

BM: I go back to that. Like they kind of see themselves and how they can see themselves in the project and be like, oh, I do these little things of like little things of trying to control and control someone else or acceptance of someone else.

And I just want them to put themselves in check and be like, oh, wow. You know, again, I want him to have a good time laugh and escape from the world a little bit, but like under it all, it's. You know, it's a conversation about what it is to be in a relationship and, what is the right distance and how deep can you be involved and what is really accepting or opening up and like being a partner. It’s on to those like entertaining and fun and just like, God, I want to see some more. And then the other thing is just take a second and watch it and be like, holy shit. I do that. That would be my goal that the ending of the series, like the season I'm like, damn, I relate to that so much.

Switching gears let's talk fashion with your character.

BM: The glasses actually. I thought it was very important for them to have those classes. There was this guy I saw once and I met him and I was like that guy is the biggest douche bag I know, you know. He had glasses like that. So that's partly why I picked him, but what it does for me, there's always a barrier between him and the world. And there's still something blocking it. There's a guard. There's always a guard that he's having in front of

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him. And that's why I chose the glasses. So only certain times is he taking it off like the diner scene, it was just the guy that's always trying to protect himself from the world.

I always wonder if actors have a spare room, like a game room or something, and you like have like one outfit from each project or character you played.

BM: No, but there's like little things I kept from each character.

Like a necklace here. I got it. Prince Andrew's had this giant ring that he had, so I kept that.

So tell us more about this project in Georgia?

BM: I had finished a project in LA. I kind of got stuck in LA during the COVID time project. Finally, we were able to finish it and I was like, I need to get out. I had some personal things happened in my life, so I just needed to reset. I got my parents, a house on this lake down there and this other house opened up. So me and my brother just went in on it. Usually after every project I do, I would go on a trip to, uh, anywhere around the world where I didn't speak the language or know the area just to. Kind of reconnected myself in a weird way, like go through the world as just who I am at that moment and remember, who Billy is. I kinda did that with going down to Georgia. We're renovating my parents' house. So like we're literally going down the line of the house, the roof everything's just rebuilding and constructing the whole thing. Yeah. And it's been really nice to do that with my parents and help them, you know, my father was a carpenter. He's retired now, so it's just like me and him knocking down walls and putting them back up. It's just such a nice pace. I'll always have this house.

Did you learn this as a kid or are these new skills you are picking up now?

BM: I grew up in a carpenter shop. I have all the guts and the nail holes from shooting my fingers and stuff. I have all the scars. Yeah, I just grew up in a carpenter shop, it wasn't the life I wanted to go down. I mean, literally since I was like five, I was in that corporate tree shot every summer I was just working, working, and then finally college came and I was like, got the opportunity to go to North Carolina school of the arts and. Just kind of went down this rabbit hole of acting and theater there.

I'm so glad I have those skills.

It's a good time to mention James Bond and talk about being in the biggest franchise in movie history.

BM: I wish I saw it. I don't get that way. You know, I have a buddy call me up and he was like, Hey, you want, you want to, I got a character for you. Can you do this? And I was like, yeah, of course. And at the end of the day, it's, it's just, again, it's a job like. Yes. There's so many beautiful things about it and like you said, the biggest franchise in the world. I could see from being on the outside and watching and be like, holy shit. But

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when you're going through it, just like, just do your job, like, don't fuck this up. You're still worried about that part.

I guess it's like probably playing in the super bowl. You don't have time to be, oh my God. I'm playing in the super bowl.

BM: Yeah. Yeah, well, that's like I was, I watched hockey the other night at the Rangers game. And like I was thinking about these people they're playing in Madison Square Garden, who are the New York Rangers, they are just playing the game. It's the same game they've been playing since they were kids.

They're just playing the game because they love it. I guess, acting, it's kind of the same thing. It doesn't matter where it is. You're just doing the thing you like. Like doing and you.

It might've been Gary Oldman. He was auditioning to play Macbeth. And he finally found out and got the role. He was like, holy shit. I'm playing Macbeth and then he's like, holy shit, I'm playing MACBETH! Cause he had to do all the work.

I gotta ask about your character in James Bond, No Time To Die. The name is incredible. Logan Ash. Maybe you can't tell us something about the character. Did you do any physical training, or combat training?

BM: You know, he's a CIA agent with Felix and I did a lot of training. There was this amazing French stunt team. I showed up to London, I think two months earlier and we just trained all the time, boxing, punching, guns, and it was awesome. You're just training for the stuff and I hope it pays off. I hope it looks good, you know? But it was a great workout.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned in your career so far?

BM: Fuck man. Biggest lesson I learned through all these years of having a career is like, don't be a fucking ass hole. That's the best thing you could do. Have a good time. Enjoy yourself.

Don't be a Dick. Yeah. I mean, I think that's what makes you probably successful both in your career and in life though.

People don't want to be around someone who is a Dick. No, no one does. It gets around fast now in this industry.

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ABOVE

Bracelets: David Yurman

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CLOCK WISE FROM TOP

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Cardigan: Brunello Cucinelli Credit/descriptive line Bracelets: David Yurman to go here.

Watch: Omega

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THEO ROSSI Payton Ruddock Seth Travis

PHOTOGRAPHER EDITOR

Theo Rossi has a lot to say. Infact he has his own successful pordcast, Reaper Reviews but he is also a career actor having clawed his way from background roles charcters like Burt Cummings in the new ZackSnyder film Army of the Dead now streaming on Netflix and showing in select theatres across the USA. We caught up with the actor and podcast host over Zoom in the heals of the release of the new zombie film. Here is a portion of our conversation.

What do you think makes a good pod-

cast or interview?

TR: Yeah, I think at the heart of it all is the same thing, which is truth. Right. Are you telling people the truth, meaning that, is it real what's happening, right?

Whatever they're experiencing. Is it real in the sense that the people who are doing it, want to do it. They're excited about it.

And they mean it, right? I think that this is why the world is changing so much you can't fake the funk anymore. Authenticity is authenticity. You're either acting out of fear or love, which we always say, right?

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These two emotions that drive everything.

Right. And if you love what you do and you love doing this. Like, whatever your medium is, whatever your way of doing it, whatever your job is, if you love doing it, it shows right. I have been fortunate where the things that I do in my life, whatever it is at the moment. I love it. Like I have to love it, right. We're in the process of moving and moving is draining, right?

We all know this, everybody's moving and it's like, ah, it's draining. And then I just go, no, hold on. I'm going to clean this closet out and I'm going to kick this

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ass. Like I am going to have so much fun doing this. I'm going to listen to a podcast and listen to a playlist, or I'm listening to a book. I listen to a lot of books and I'm going to really take this time. To make this as perfect as possible as opposed to, you know, not wanting to do it. And I think that that works in everything. And that's what happened with pod casting during the pandemic.

Connection was harder to find. Ultimately my brother and my best friend, one of the people who I admire in this life Kim Coates. I realized that we both had never watched. The series Sons of anarchy. We had seen episodes, finales premiers, but we had never really watched it. We said, what if we watch the episodes and talk about them and my gosh, the show just blew up. And now we have another show Theory. That's on Patreon. So I get to do all this content with him and we get to talk about all these different things. And we're just two friends that have known each other for well over a decade and it's a lot of fun.

Can you tell us when you first heard about the Army of the Dead project?

TR: It was wild. I was in New York doing press and I got a call and they said, uh, Hey, there's this Zack Snyder movie…and I was like, say no more. And they were like, we want you to jump on the phone with him. And I was like, okay, and I have my kids with me. They were babies at the time and my wife and I were running through Manhattan and I said, I got to go back to the hotel room. I ran back to the hotel room. She stayed in the restaurant and I spoke with Zack for over an hour. I don't think we mentioned the movie once we were just talking about when I lived in LA for 15 years, I had predominantly lived in the area he was living in. So we spoke about that and our local favorite places.

And then like at the end there, it was kind of like, yes, we should do this. And I was like, Yeah, we should do this. And I was like, that's cool. I had gone to LA to film this other movie, like literally right after it.

And my buddy who's the casting director was like, Hey, Zack just wants to, you know, read this thing. I went in and found out like an hour later, I got it. Cut to five

months later, we were filming in Atlantic City and New Mexico and it worked out, you know, everything. I think that, you know, I said this all the time, that luck and timing is more important than a lot of things. The movie I was doing when I was there, Was American Skin that just came out in January. And my buddy Omari Hardwick, we've known each other for 20 years, but we had never worked together. We were doing American Skin together and then I got Army of the Dead.

And then while we were doing Army, I was in discussions on Army and going to Zack’s house to do a costume, we were taking photos of the characters and the way he was going to look. Omari’s name had come up and I was like, oh, you gotta do it!

Tell us more about your character Bert and how you developed him with Zack?

I'll say that he is so insecure. He, so like, he's that guy, right? He's that with the flashy yellow car and like the guy who he just wants to be something he's not.

One of the scariest things on the planet, which is abuse of power. Right. And, uh, you know, an abusive power, which, you know, has been spotlighted and run rampant in our society is that he has that.

And then if you really think about it, we film this way before the pandemic, there are things that go on with him that you're like, you know exactly what I'm talking about, where you go, wait a second.

This is what's happening now. Burt is overcompensating. He was never in the military, but man, does he wish he was, he probably tells people in the bar if he has too much to drink that he was in the military, but he wasn't and he wants to be. I got to tell you, you know, It's very rare that you just have someone like Zack Snyder. He wrote it, he shot it. He's got the camera on his shoulder. He's directing it. He's adjusting the lights. He knows everything that's going on. And at the same time you're talking to him and going, what do you think about trying this? And he's like, let's do it. What about this? And he's like do that or, and then you do it. And then he goes, Hey, you know, what more of that? Or. You want MANOFMETROPOLIS.COM

to do something else? And it's like, it's just, there's such a conversation. There's such a synergy. And with someone like Burt Cummings with whatever you want to call him, the name is just so wrong in so many ways. Oh my God. It's so perfect for him.

I'd be remiss to not just ask you about your experience with Zack?

So Netflix is an amazing place and I've done a bunch of stuff with them and have a bunch of stuff coming out with them because they truly are, you know, almost what United Artists was in the beginning with Charlie Chaplin you know, letting the artists be the artist. Zack is someone that is a true artist. And again, Artist's objective, whether you like it or not, that's your opinion. You know, and, and with someone like Zack, you have to let Zack be Zack, you gotta let them go and you gotta let them do it. It doesn't mean that every body's going to love it. The thing is, is that you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't let an artist be an artist. What we do in film making is no different than if you leaned over a painter’s shoulder and told a painter how to paint, is he really painting? You know? So the thing is, is that any artist is an artist. You can't, you can tell a dancer how to maybe choreograph a dance, but once they go that's on them.

It sounds like you have learned a lot in your career, but also aligned yourself with the right people and the right projects. What is your personal mantra?

I tell my kids all day, every day. Literally, when I talk to my kids; Listening is love.

Patience is power. literally if they walked in here right now, they're at school and I would say, patience is, and they go, power listening is love. And they've realized that that's all I'm trying to tell them because it's what I tell myself.

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PHOTOGRAPHER EDITOR

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We caught up with rising star Gregory Diaz IV who stars in the new Broadway adaptation of In The Heights out June 11.

You and Anthony Ramos have the most screen time together. What was that dynamic like on set?

Do you remember that first spark or that moment, whether you were at the theater or watching a movie or TV show where you said I want to do this?

GD: It really did stem off from that chemistry test. Honestly, as soon as I walked in the room and really got to meet Anthony, like one-on-one, it was just this immediate, immediate connection between the two of us and. I would describe it as like a big brother kind of thing.

GD: Yeah. I remember actually being very clearly. I come from a pretty major musical theater background. So that first moment for me, I think I was maybe around 10 years old. I'm not a huge fan of musical theater, but my dad took me to see Matilda on Broadway. I remember seeing kids, you know, my age on stage acting and singing and dancing. It was just this immediate feeling of like, wanting to do that and wanting to be on that stage.

And that was kind of really the first time, I would say, the goal I set for myself and my career, which was to be a part of Matilda.

And I think I auditioned probably two to three times until I finally got cast.

How did starting in musical theatre help you as an actor?

I think it has helped me and my venture to kind of move forward with TV and film. I mean, the first thing I could think of is just like the fact that on Broadway, it's like, you know, you have this one shot to do it, but you are doing the show eight times a week. You know, if you mess it up, there's always next time, but you don't want to mess it up. You know, you want to do your best on stage in front of people. So it kind of builds on the mindset of like it's one and done, you know, you gotta bring your A game that day. It kind of travels to this idea of on set, just wanting to bring your A game right from the start. It's like an adrenaline rush while you're doing it.

Did you see a performance of In The Heights on Broadway?

GD: No, unfortunately I was in diapers when it was on Broadway still. I was born in 2005 and I think it was on Broadway in 2008.

My first introduction to In The Heights was through all the hype for Hamilton and listening to the cast album. And then just kind of doing the research and falling in love with the story. And then from there, it was just like this deep love I had for it.

MM: You play this character, Sonny. I think there's obviously a lot of humor about your character, but you also have some pretty dynamic ensemble performances with Lin Manuel Miranda, Jimmy Smits and Mark Anthony plays your dad. What was that like?

GD: Yeah. I mean, that question kind of goes all the way back. I would say to my chemistry test slash director session, I had that was my first time walking into a room and pretty much all the producers are in their John, the director, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the writers. And then I had a chemistry test with Anthony Ramos and walked into this room with all these people. It was just like nerve wracking. And I was like, I can't let this out. Like I gotta keep it in. like I'm here to work. Like I gotta do my thing.

This film feels like a huge celebration of culture and love for the LatinX community.

GD: Coming from Latin X background, which is such a blessing and something that I've never really seen before or been a part of. And the film itself just holds, I think so much to it. And it wasn't really, until I think I had wrapped that I had finally and clearly understood that. You know, we're specifically talking about Washington Heights, which is in New York city, but home is anywhere. Home could be in a whole other state or home could be all the way across the globe.

What is your hope for people when they watch In The Height?

I really hope that specifically the Hispanic community walks away feeling represented and proud, but at the same time, just everyone walking away from the film, feeling those messages and having something that they can connect to.

Let’s talk about Sonny's and the musical performance in the pool!

It was really just kind of like a one-on-one thing with the choreographers. Having the words really punch the meaning and kind of like the choreography just to like go with it, something that's going to help elevate it because it's such a hype moment in the song. You know, you want these like crazy cool movements that are gonna help do that. I think maybe it took like a day, luckily I was very involved in the choreography process.

You must be really into music what are you listing to?

GD: Right now I was listening to the new J Cole album. The off season. Love it. I have my life featuring 21 Savage.

What have you been streaming or watching movie wise?

GD: I haven't been that in tune with movies lately, but I've been really into Disney plus shows. I watched Wanda Vision and I watched the Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Is there a MCU superhero dream role out ther for you?

GD: Nova. He comes from space He's Puerto Rican. I'm Puerto Rican, so, you know, it works.

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New Republic WORDS IMAGES

Seth Travis Matthew Clerkin

New Republic CEO, Josh Kaplan is the chief executive officer of New Republic, a digitally native footwear brand dedicated to comfort without compromise.

Josh launched this brand with the goal of disrupting the casual shoe market with innovative materials and classic silhouettes at an unprecedented value. Josh began his career at Variety magazine, eventually leading their efforts to transform their a hundred-plus-year-old publication for the digital future. Josh left Variety to earn his MBA at Columbia Business School, specializing in the intersection of brands and technology.

What got you interested in fashion?

I grew up with my mother working at Saks Fifth Avenue. And so almost every day after school, you know, I'd head over there and I'd just, uh, play with the clothes, run around, like learn about what's new, what's in season. You know, how these lines were created and all the ready-towear versus each department had its identity and I was just so fascinated by

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it. It's such a huge part of your personal identity. Being able to, you know, wear what you want to wear. It changes how people perceive you. It's one of the original forms of self-expression. It's one of the few things that are also completely, for the most part, your discretion, right? You get to choose what you wear every day, even if you’re in a private school that has a uniform, there are still things that people will do to make it your own.

Your path sounds very different from the normal fashion career formula. Can you walk us through it more?

I have a very math background. I'm a very analytical person. I'm also very creative. Fashion is a very apprenticeship mentality.

I didn't feel that I wanted to spend my twenties, working in the background for the opportunity. I still put in the hours, right. It's hard work what we do. But I thought that it would be wise for me to focus on the other side, which is how to run the business.

I started my career at Variety and I had an unbelievable experience there where I got to learn directly from a publisher. I spent the next few years after that working in a venture capital role.

So we were investing in early-stage technology, enterprise SAS platforms, influencer marketing software, and consumer brands.

I had a front-row seat to so many brands pioneering this directto-consumer experience where you can actually create a website that has a one-to-one relationship with every customer.

So what are you focused on right now product and customer wise?

All we focus on is everything you need and nothing you don't.

That's like our mantra and of course, it's almost tongue in cheek at this point because nobody needs Chelsea boots. Right? But, the Chelsea boot is by far and wide our bestseller. The Sonoma is just a beautiful piece that we've made.

It has been a crazy year. What else is included in the mantra now?

What we say almost every day is; do less. And I think that's really been the most powerful term that's helped me get through everything and it could be applied to so many different facets of life.

How did you go from publishing to V.C. to fashion?

I see you are wearing a Buck Mason shirt? I was one of the first hires at Buck Mason. That was my departure from working in a much more strategic, you know, working in a venture capital role, moving over to Buck. So this was my way to get into the fashion industry. I was a student of the process there. I felt very fortunate because I was able to learn from incredible designers and an incredible team there that just really understood how to make every product perfect. Like that's the obsession with perfection, Buck Mason really became, at least I believe, a household name in menswear. And so having that experience plus learning how to build and scale businesses, brought me to New Republic.

Can you talk to us about the product?

So everything we make is super high quality, really durable, and will last forever and it's seasonless and effortless, right? I think both can live in everyone's closet, but that's what we're focusing on. You know, two and a half years ago, we launched New Republic to the public. And since then we've been building brands together. And so I launched Melrose place last year, which is a garment-dyed, knitwear business. So incredible hoodies, t-shirts, and sweatpants. I do think that comfort is such a priority for everyone, especially now. So number one is comfort. Number two is quality. So we want our products to last.

So when we think of competitors, we're competing on materialization. We're really investing in everything you need and nothing you don't. And that's something that we obsess over.

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EDITORIAL FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & EDITOR -IN- CHIEF

Seth Travis Seth Travis ST YLIST Jorge Morales ST YLIST Torian Lewin ST YLIST Joao Pedro Assis ST YLIST Janou Montegud ST YLIST Britt Theodora

FASHION DIRECTOR

PHOTOGRAPHERS Austin Augie Brendan Wixted Qiao Payton Ruddock Nick Thompson Emily Assiran Matthew Clerkin

ARTISTS Robert Dallas Maria Renza